Susan Bogni, retiring county commissioner Bob Macleod’s assistant, wrote a letter to newly elected PCOs, making her case for why she should be appointed to the upcoming vacant seat.

Nothing in the letter takes care of my reservations towards her here.

Again, I’m sure she’s really nice, but the whole idea of a staff assistant taking the position feels wrong.

Actually, her letter spells out and amplifies my reservations, at least in my reading.

For the past six years, I have sat by Bob’s side as his teammate with shared values for the many topics in county government. I sit at the table with him on water quality and flooding matters — I am the designated alternate on the Tri-County Flood Authority.

…

I have drafted and helped advance ordinances such as noise control, no shooting zones and the apprenticeship utilization ordinance…

She goes on to spell out her knowledge of county government from the inside, he involvement in the county Democratic organization and her laudable community involvement. But, that no more qualifies her for the position than any other engaged, committed citizen.

Using words like “team mate,” “sit at the table” and “drafted and helped advance,” it seems like she’s trying to tell us that she’s already a county commissioner.

The only other thing I’m worried about is that Susan has never run for office herself. She’s of course helped out on campaigns, she knows how they’re run. But, I think there is something vastly different when you’re the one on the spot.

The one positive thing I can say about Susan is that she lives in unincorporated Thurston County, where the people most effected by this commission seat also live.